Man fatally assaults pregnant wife

A Zengeza man who fatally assaulted his pregnant wife in 2003, was yesterday jailed for two years.
Chenjerai Utete, 36, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide charges when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya.

He was sentenced to six years in prison of which four years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Mujaya considered that Utete was a first time offender, remarried and with one child but also noted that he had committed a serious offence which could only be justified by a custodial sentence.

Prosecutor Kudzai Chigwedere alleged that Utete and his wife Stella Gandidzanwa had stayed together for 11 years as husband and wife until December 11, 2002.

They decided to divorce following infidelity disputes arising from claims that Utete did not father their first child Paddington.

On December 30, Utete visited his former wife at her parents' residence in Mhondoro, where she resided.
Utete indicated that he wanted to engage Gandidzanwa in a reconciliation dialogue and the two were given some privacy.

An argument ensued between the two and Utete picked an iron bar and struck Gandidzanwa several times on the head before fleeing the scene.

Gandidzanwa bled profusely and was later ferried to Monera Clinic in Mhondoro.

She was subsequently transferred to Harare Central Hospital, where she later died due to the injuries sustained in the attack.

On January 20, 2003, a post mortem was done on Gandidzanwa, which revealed that her death was caused by open head wounds and brain abscess.